Ganga

The Ganges, or Ganga, is the largest river of the Indian subcontinent by discharge. It has long been considered the holiest of all rivers by Hindus and worshiped as the goddess Ganga in Hinduism. It has also been important historically: many former provincial or imperial capitals (such as Patliputra, Kannauj, Kara, Allahabad, Murshidabad, Berhampore and Calcutta) have been located on its banks. The river has been declared as India's "National River".

The Ganges, above all is the river of India, which has held India's heart captive and drawn uncounted millions to her banks since the dawn of history. The story of the Ganges, from her source to the sea, from old times to new, is the story of India's civilization and culture, of the rise and fall of empires, of great and proud cities, of adventures of man...

Yamuna

The Yamuna (sometimes called Jamuna or Jumna) is the largest tributary river of the Ganges in northern India. Originating from the Yamunotri Glacier at a height 6,387 mtrs., on the south western slopes of Banderpooch peaks, in the Lower Himalayas, it travels a total length of 1,376 kilometers (855 mi) and has a drainage system of 366,223 km2, 40.2% of the entire Ganga Basin, before merging with the Ganges at Triveni Sangam, Allahabad, the site for the Kumbha Mela every twelve years.

Narmada

The Narmada, also called Rewa is a river in central India and the fifth largest river in the Indian subcontinent. Narmada is a Sanskrit word meaning "the Giver of Pleasure". It forms the traditional boundary between North India and South India and flows westwards over a length of 1,312 km (815.2 mi) before draining through the Gulf of Cambey (Khambat) into the Arabian Sea, 30 km (18.6 mi) west of Bharuch city of Gujarat.

It is one of only three major rivers in peninsular India that runs from east to west (largest west flowing river) along with the Tapti River and the Mahi River. It is the only river in India that flows in a rift valley flowing west between the Satpura and Vindhya ranges although the Tapti River and Mahi River also flow through rift valleys but between different ranges.

Krishna

The Krishna River is one of the longest rivers in central-southern India, about 1,300 kilometres (810 mi). It is also referred to as Krishnaveni in its original nomenclature.

Sutlej

The Sutlej River (alternatively spelled as Satluj River) is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroad region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. It is located north of the Vindhya Range, south of the Hindu Kush segment of the Himalayas, and east of the Central Sulaiman Range in Pakistan. The Sutlej was known as Śutudri in the Vedic period.

The Sutlej is sometimes known as the Red River. It is the easternmost tributary of the Indus River. Its source is at Lake Rakshastal in Tibet near Mount Kailas, and it flows, generally west and southwest entering India through the Shipki La pass in Himachal Pradesh. In Pakistan, it waters the ancient and historical former Bahawalpur state. The Sutlej joins with the Beas River in Hari-Ke-Patan, Amritsar, Punjab, India, and continues southwest into Pakistan to unite with the Chenab River, forming the Panjnad River near Bahawalpur. The Panjnad joins the Indus River at Mithankot. Indus then flows through a gorge near Sukkur, flows through the fertile plains region of Sindh, and terminates in the Arabian Sea near the port city of Karachi in Pakistan.

Kosi

The Kosi River, also known as Saptakoshi for its seven Himalayan tributaries—is a trans-boundary river flowing through Nepal and India. Some of the rivers of the Koshi system, such as the Arun, the Sun Kosi and the Bhote Koshi, originate in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It is one of the largest tributaries of the Ganges.

The Kosi River (The Sorrow of Bihar) is one of two major tributaries, the other river being Gandak, draining the plains of north Bihar, the most flood-prone area of India.

Formerly known as Kauśiki, the Kosi River is a major tributary of the Ganges. This river is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata as Kauśiki. Seven Koshis join together, to form the Saptakoshi river, which is popularly known as the Koshi.

Jhelum

Jehlum or Jhelum River is a river that flows in India and Pakistan. It is the largest and most western of the five rivers of Punjab, and passes through Jhelum District. It is a tributary of the Chenab River and has a total length of about 505 miles (813 kilometers).

Shipra

The Shipra, also known as the Kshipra, is a river in Madhya Pradesh state of central India. The river rises in the Vindhya Range north of Dhar, and flows south across the Malwa Plateau to join the Chambal River. It is one of the sacred rivers in Hinduism. The holy city of Ujjain is situated on its right bank. Every 12 years, the Kumbh Mela festival takes place on the city's elaborate riverside ghats, as do yearly celebrations of the river goddess Kshipra. There are hundreds of Hindu shrines along the banks of the river Shipra.

With this reference, the word Shipra is used as a symbol of "purity" (of soul, emotions, body, etc.) or "chastity" or "clarity".

Mahanadi

The Mahanadi flows in East Central India. It drains an area of around 132,100 km2 and has a total course of 858 km. The river flows through the states of Chhattisgarh, Orissa, and Jharkhand.

Like many other seasonal Indian rivers, the Mahanadi too is a combination of many mountain streams and thus its precise source is impossible to pinpoint.

However its farthest headwaters lie 6 km from Pharisiya village, 442 m above sea level south of Nagri town in Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh. The hills here are an extension of the Eastern Ghats and are a source of many other streams which then go on to join the Mahanadi.

Tapti

The Tapti River, ancient original name Tapi River, is a river in central India, in Gujarat passing from Surat and Songadh. It is one of the major rivers of peninsular India, with a length of around 724 km. It is one of only three rivers in peninsular India that run from east to west - the others being the Narmada River and the Mahi River.

The river rises in the eastern Satpura range of southern Madhya Pradesh state, and flows westward, draining Madhya Pradesh’s Nimar region, Maharashtra’s Kandesh and east Vidarbha region in the northwest corner of the Deccan plateau and south Gujarat, before emptying into the Gulf of Cambay of the Arabian Sea, in the Surat district of Gujarat. The river, along with the northern parallel Narmada river, form the boundaries between North and South India. The Western Ghats or Sahyadri range starts south of the Tapti River near the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra. The Tapti (Tapi) River empties into the Gulf of Khambhat near the city of Surat in Gujarat.

Sone

Son River (also spelt Sone) of central India is the largest of the Ganges' southern tributaries. A British 1850s diary shows that the river was written in English as Soane.

Periyar

The Periyar River is the longest river in the state of Kerala, India, with a length of 244 km. The Periyar is known as the lifeline of Kerala. It is one of the few perennial rivers in the region and provides drinking water for several major towns. The Idukki Dam on the Periyar generates a significant proportion of Kerala's electrical power.

Betwa

The Betwa is a river in Northern India, and a tributary of the Yamuna. Also known as the Vetravati, the Betwa rises in the Vindhya Range just north of Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh and flows north-east through Madhya Pradesh and flow through Orchha to Uttar Pradesh. Nearly one-half of its course, which is not navigable, runs over the Malwa Plateau before it breaks into the upland. A tributary of the Yamuna River, the confluence of the Betwa and the Yamuna Rivers takes place in the Hamirpur town in Uttar Pradesh, in the vicinity of Orchha.